Calloway is much better! Food change coming up! [Archive]

jennielynn1970

06-30-2008, 09:00 PM

Ok, first issue is with my girl, Finae. She's losing hair on the OUTSIDES of her ears! Like, the short little hairs, they were almost gone when I looked at her the other day. No one else has anything like this going on. It's so weird. I put Revolution on her just in case (none of them ever go outside except Zach and that's only on my back deck). She doesn't seem to be rubbing at them, but she is sneezing every so often. Just so strange. No hair loss anywhere else. Nothing else what so ever.

2nd infirmary case is Calloway. Now, I know he's very touchy about his tail and rear end area. He had nasty, major abscesses to his tail and such when I got him from the shelter. You still can't touch him much beyond his mid section or he will nip.

Well... I noticed he was not smelling nicely "back there" and wanted to see what was up. He did the scooching thing too, and I think that was to clean his butt off. I was not impressed, no happy. So, I try to see, and he makes his sad little meow about not hurting him. so, I pick him up and try to look from the belly view and pull back the tail a bit, and dab with a tissue. Well!!! That just about made him flip out and scream at me. I mean, literally scream. He was very unhappy, would not come near me, and I can't tell what is wrong. What I could see, it looks like somehting under his tail is swollen and looks very irritated. I can't touch it, he'd take my hand off. He is a very LARGE kitty, looks more like a bowling ball than a kitty. Tried the diet foods, but only my skinny cats lost weight. Not Calloway.

So, to the vet tomorrow we go for Calloway. I'm holding off on Finae till next pay day as her ears are not botherin her, and they just make me curious at this point.

Send some good vibes and wishes for Calloway to Pennsylvania... He's a sensitive boy and needs to feel he's not being violated, lol!

Catty1

06-30-2008, 09:05 PM

Aw, poor Calloway! Meowmy's just trying to help you, dearest boy.

Be a good boy at the vet...and maybe you can get a nice little pill so you won't feel any owies when he checks you over.

Finae - where HAVE you been sticking your head? :p I'm glad your ears aren't hurting you, and that you get them fixed up soon.

Jenn - I am wondering if it's hormonal?

And Calloway...would calming stuff, like Feliway or something, maybe relax him a bit more, and calm down his eating? Does he eat really fast as if someone is going to steal all his food?

Prayers for those lovely babies.:love:

Karen

06-30-2008, 09:06 PM

jennielynn1970

06-30-2008, 09:08 PM

Strangely enough, there's no telling where she's been sticking her head. When kitten and still unnamed, the girl who had her called her adventure kitty because she was into everything. She's hasn't changed a bit.

She's still the one who chews my electrical cords -- only if they are plugged in. She's a wacko, I"m telling ya!!!

Yes, I'm hoping and praying that Calloway will be ok. I don't think he eats fast or anything. I don't really know. If I have Dr. Hess tomorrow, I think she might examine him more closely cause he's really become a porker.

jennielynn1970

06-30-2008, 09:11 PM

Poor Calloway - maybe infected/impacted anal glands? Maybe they'll give him a mild sedative so he'll forget the whole indignity!

Sounds like allergies for Finae - it's a bad time of year for those of us witj pollen allergies, dunno if you're having the same hot, humid still air we are!

Never dealt with impacted anal glands. I thought they were a dog thing..:rolleyes: Do they show symptoms?? Do they look swollen back there??? His butt is the only butt that looks the way it does... it isn't pretty!

Allergies could be Finae's deal too. She does seem to stick to the rooms with the super duper HEPA filters in them. I could try Benedryl if it gets bad. The pink ears just really caught me off guard!

Moesha

06-30-2008, 09:14 PM

My Lemon lost hair on her the outside of the ears. The vet gave me these medicated pads to use. Looked like Oxy pads for acne. They made it worse. I stopped using them and the hair grew back. Only happened once and don't know what caused it. But I know her ears were balding. She's my only long haired kitty and her fur is black.

krazyaboutkatz

06-30-2008, 09:48 PM

I'm so sorry to hear about Finae and Calloway.:( When I first had Storm I was feeding him a lot of food that had fish in it and he started losing the fur on his ears. The vet at first thought that he had ringworm but that wasn't the case. Then his partner asked me what I was feeding him and I told him and he said that some cats are allergic to fish. I stopped feeding him cat food that had fish in it and his fur grew back. Unlike Finae though, he was very itchy. Hopefully she can be easily treated.

Poor Calloway.:( He must be so uncomfortable. Can cats get hemorrhoids? I have heard that some cats do have anal gland problems but I don't think it's as common as it is in dogs. I hope that the vet will be able to help him. He may also need to be put on a different diet. I hope that everything goes well tomorrow. Please keep us updated. Lot of prayers and positive thoughts are going out to Calloway.

Emeraldgreen

06-30-2008, 11:12 PM

Jenn, I had a really similar experience with George and I wonder if Calloway might be dealing with the same thing. George is one of my two 'BIG' cats and he too struggles to lose weight even when I restrict his calorie reduced kibbles. George is very sensitive with his whole back end and had a horrible tail abscess that required surgery when he was with his previous owner. He bites me as well if I touch him for too long on lower back or tail.
He's still big but not 'as big' as he was last year because he's getting more exercise in his outdoor run. But last year when he was really big, I noticed that he was trying to reach his back end to clean himself but he couldn't reach. I tried to help him with a wet cloth but he would have none of it. Each day I tried to help but it was getting worse. I finally was able to get a peek (he was very feisty about me looking down there) and then I saw that he had some poop caked on there and it was getting worse. I could see that his bum area was really irritated. I took him to the vet and because he is somewhat feral they had to put him under and shave his bum area. It was so red and raw and I felt terribly for him.
Once he was cleaned up, they sent him home with some Theraderm cream (anti-inflammatory steroidal cream) that I had to apply. They said it would make him more comfortable and it really did seem to help him. He was fine within a week or two and he is still able to clean his backend for the most part now.
Anyway, I wonder if it could just be a matter of irritation that has progressed due to his large size and not being able to attend to himself down there? I hope that is all it is. :)

My cat Stinky has had impacted anal glands in the past and when I went to pick her up she would kind of meow/scream which she never normally does. I saw her scooting her bum on the carpet and took her to the vet and it turned out both her anal glands were impacted. They 'squeezed' them and got rid of it. YUCK!!! She was great after that. But during the procedure she was very cranky and just about took the vet's head off. She hasn't had it happen since and that was a few years ago.

Stinky has also lost some hair around the edges of her ears in the past and it seemed like it was diet related. Once I switched her back to a food she was used to her ear hairs grew back.

jennielynn1970

07-01-2008, 03:35 AM

Hmmmm... if it is diet related for Finae, the only thing that I changed in the last month and a half was to go from Nutro to California Natural. They are bascially the same "recipe" Chicken and Rice. I saw they had a Herring and Sweet Potato flavor, but seeing as my guys have never been fed either of those (unless they sneak them in at Nutro), I decided against it. They had been on this food a few years ago and for a long time as well. It was recommended for two of the cats I have that have super sensitive stomachs because it's so basic and natural. Before trying Nutro and California Natural I'd have cat barf all over, and two of them had colitis or IBD, where they pooped pus and blood (lovely, huh??).

About 3 months or so back, I noticed a lot more throwing up, and saw that the Nutro bag said "New and improved taste!". Well... apparently, it wasn't so improved or better tasting in the minds of my kitties or they wouldn't have been throwing up all over the place. So, I thought I'd go back to California Natural. If the hair doesn't come back on her ears w/in a month, I'll have to switch them I guess (the food, not the ears, :p). That just stumps me then because what food do you pick for 8 cats that have different issues and you don't feed separately and free feed at that??

He's still big but not 'as big' as he was last year because he's getting more exercise in his outdoor run. But last year when he was really big, I noticed that he was trying to reach his back end to clean himself but he couldn't reach. I tried to help him with a wet cloth but he would have none of it. Each day I tried to help but it was getting worse. I finally was able to get a peek (he was very feisty about me looking down there) and then I saw that he had some poop caked on there and it was getting worse. I could see that his bum area was really irritated. I took him to the vet and because he is somewhat feral they had to put him under and shave his bum area. It was so red and raw and I felt terribly for him.
THAT sounds like Calloway to a T!!! When I got him, he was NOT fat at all. He had been a stray and was in a kill shelter. He has always been sensitive about me touching him below the back, and he's got this pathetic little meow too. It so doesn't suit his Arnold Schwartzenegger body, lol.

I've watched him trying to groom himself. It's sad. He's like a weeble wobble, he just rolls and can't get to areas. I think part of it is maybe it's hard for him to reach, and also maybe because he had had a broken leg or something at some point (he limps, and has so since I got him), maybe he's very stiff. I'd love to do some massage, or maybe a heated bed for him?? I dont' know how I'd keep the others out of it, although I could move it to a room and put him in it, no guarantee he'd sleep in it though if I did that, lol. He's a velcro kitty, and cries to be with me. He was going to be adopted about a month ago, but that fell through, and honestly, I'm glad because I love him so much. He's my big sweet boy. I'll even say that "Who's my big sweetie? Who's mamma's big sweet boy??" and he chirps and bends his head for me to give him kisses on top of it, lol. If my mother saw that, she's just roll her eyes! But he is my boy, and him being smelly and in pain hurts me, so I"m hoping that the vet can do something. I'm hoping this hasn't been going on for a long time!! I know he's been messy, and I've tried to clean him up (smack, bite, smack again, nasty nasty meows), so I just didn't know what to do. I was even thinking of putting him in the shower and trying to put the shower head on a soft stream and wetting him down. Didn't seem like it would work, and didn't want to lose any digits over it either.

So, anyway.... I guess we'll see what the vet says at 10:30. I know they said he had to lose weight, but I'll be darned if I'd know how to get him to diet, seriously. Even on the diet food he didn't lose weight. My skinny girls did, which did not make me happy, but Calloway and Zach stayed right at 18+lbs. :rolleyes: Maybe they really are like their owner, lol, that seems to be my lament as well (diet, low cal food that doesn't really do anything). ;)

jennielynn1970

07-01-2008, 03:44 AM

This was Calloway when I got him (not fat!) and napping comfortably:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t261/jenn_librarian/HPIM0621.jpg

Here he is months later... not so heavy, and looking good actually:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t261/jenn_librarian/Calloway4.jpg

This is Calloway more recently:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t261/jenn_librarian/HPIM0866.jpg

He's the only one I have who has gotten FAT! None of my others look like this at all. Zach is large, but he's a very large boy (tall and long and just all muscle). Do you think maybe it's in his genes???

jenluckenbach

07-01-2008, 05:26 AM

Besides Cal's butt, maybe he should have a blood test. It might show a reason for uncontrollable weight gain.

jennielynn1970

07-01-2008, 06:28 AM

I'm hoping it's Dr. Hess in today, because I think she does a more thorough job than Fanelli. He saw Calloway a month or so ago, and never mentioned tests when I said he had gained so much weight. It was a really quick in and out of a visit for both Cal and Zach, and he didn't seem to see anything to worry about.

I'll have to mention it to which ever vet I'm seeing today and see what they say. He's just so large in the torso area.

jennielynn1970

07-01-2008, 10:15 AM

My poor smelly boy has to stay at the vet. :(

He didn't seem to mind anyone petting him or giving him loving, but as soon as they went to look at his butt... MEEEOOOWWWW!!!! He was not having it!

The vet said there is some kind of a discharge, but he can't tell where it's coming from or what is going on. He asked if Calloway had been bitten, but I haven't seen any other cat here EVER go after Calloway. He's always been the sweet, laid back guy, never had any issues with anyone. Even Zach backs away from Calloway and only plays with him, never biting.

So, Calloway has to be sedated and then they'll clean him up and shave him and see what is going on back there. I had to put him back in the carrier and he cried when we closed the door... he's such a softie and hates being confined.

He really is smelly though, so I hope they can figure out what is going on, and be able to get him back on the road to having a better smelling butt, lol.

Catty1

07-01-2008, 10:36 AM

Poor baby! I hope they can figure out what it is, Jenn - I am sure they will. I wonder if the discharge is connected to his weight gain? - though I don't see how.

Here's hoping that Calloway gets well soon - after all, he has to get back to the Synchronized Sleeping practice with Zach for the Catlympics! ;)

Loving PT Prayers for Cal.:love:

shais_mom

07-01-2008, 11:05 AM

that's too bad Jenn!
I hope they can figger out what's going on down there!
As for Finae - I'm stumped -. Not a clue!
good luck Calloway!

Emeraldgreen

07-01-2008, 12:54 PM

Poor Calloway! But I'm so glad he's at the vet and will get all fixed up. He will be so much more comfortable once it's dealt with.
Calloway and George sound like twins! George was not fat either when we got him and we never over fed him and he just got huge! He's had a million tests and nothing has been found so far to explain it. I hope they will find something to explain Calloway's weight gain.
That weeble wobble description was very familiar! It is so awful to see them suffer like that though because I know it must be really uncomfortable. :(
I switched George to a brand of food that seems to be helping made by Wellness. It is their 'healthywise' kibble or something like that. It is a holistic dry food. He likes it and the others have been able to maintain their weight on it without losing any so it's been good.

I wonder if the discharge from his bum area could be from the irritation of not being cleaned down there for awhile and it just progressed into an infection?

At least it will be easier for you to help Calloway to keep up with being clean down there after he is shaved. Even though George was still nasty with me if I went to help him on the occasions when I saw a 'cling-on' (yuck!), he seemed to know that it was in his best interest. He was more willing to let me help than before he was shaved. His shaved bum sure was sight! But it made it really easy to apply the Theraderm cream.

Prayers that sweet Calloway will be on the mend asap! :)

jennielynn1970

07-01-2008, 01:09 PM

The vet just called me, and he said it's just a really big, nasty, hot spot. I didn't realize cats got them, and even if I had, I've never seen one. Dr. Fanelli said everything else "back there" looks fine, he's just got really irritated. He even asked if it could be from him overgrooming, but I don't even think he can reach back there at this point :o :(

The vet is keeping him overnight. They want to keep an eye on it, apply medication and something else (I think compresses or something??) and also start him on antibiotics, plus he's still sedated. They said I can pick him up tomorrow. Poor boy... I'm going to miss him till tomorrow, I know how he is, he's going to be crying being caged up and all alone.

What do they get hot spots from? I wonder if it's from switching the food, or would he have hot spots in different areas from that? Can they get hot spots from not being able to clean themselves?? What is a hot spot anyway, is it just another way of saying he has a rash??

shais_mom

07-01-2008, 01:41 PM

poor Calloway! Keegan can sure sympathasize with him. She is almost 7 and never had one before either and starting Tues/Wed she has had them pop up about 6 of them. We went to the vet and the vet said that he had lost count of how many dogs he had seen since Thursday with them - everyone one of the had to be shaved and said 80% of them are golden retrievers. She has large shaved spots on her side and head now.
I think could be bug bite or something that they just keep itching and itching and then it manifests. That's what her's did. The large one on her side was infected and oozing by the time we got to the vet. Course this all pertains to dogs - cats - not for sure.
Compresses would help it open up - my greyhound had an abscessed anal gland before she died and I had to keep a hot compress on it to get it to open up and get the infection out.
The vet had to shave Keegan's hot spots b/c they want them to stay dry and heal up.
This is just her head -
http://shim1.shutterfly.com/procgserv/47b8d808b3127cce9854b70fb80b00000047109Qas2bFs1g
And here is a pic I took with my phone on Saturday.
http://shim1.shutterfly.com/procgserv/47b8d920b3127cce9854b7fae01300000047109Qas2bFs1g

Good luck Calloway!

krazyaboutkatz

07-01-2008, 02:47 PM

Poor Calloway.:( I sure hope that he'll start feeling better soon. I always thought that a hot spot was caused when an animal kept scratching that area or rubbing on it so it then became raw. Maybe he's been scooting his bottom along the floor and this caused it. I'm sure that by shaving this area it will help to keep it cleaner.

As for a new diet, you might to want to consider putting him on a high protein diet like Innova Evo or something similar. Since I've had all of my cats on it, they've all lost some weight. I thought that my Ziggy was going to become a very overweight cat but the Innova Evo even helped her to lose some weight. I don't free feed though so I'm sure that this also helps. Finae might also be allergic to grains and the Innova Evo is a grain free food so this might also help her. Good luck.:)

Medusa

07-01-2008, 03:45 PM

I didn't realize cats got hot spots. I had a Peke-a-poo who was a nervous Nellie and got them all the time. She totally lost the hair in the places where the hot spots were and it never grew back and she lived to be 17 1/2. Poor Calloway, I'm so sorry he's going through this.

As for Finae, is it possible to give her fur a little tug w/out hurting her, I mean, if you try to pull a little bit of the fur out, does it come out easily, such as if you were pulling apart a paint brush? My Creamsicle lost the hair around her ears first, then it spread to under her chin, then on the top of her head and eventually all over. She lost nearly all the fur on her tail. The fur would come out in little tiny bits like a paint brush. Turned out to be allergies (we think) but try figuring out what she's allergic to. I think I have it nailed down to Purina Indoor Cat Chow, so I've stopped that and she doesn't get any treats whatsoever. I took Candace's advice and, when I'm handing out treats to the rest of the Fur Posse, I give her little pieces of her dry food and she thinks she's getting treats like the other cats do.

shais_mom

07-01-2008, 04:01 PM

I give her little pieces of her dry food and she thinks she's getting treats like the other cats do.

you are lucky- I can lay out treats and food and my Kylie will pick out the treats and successfully SNUB the food!

jennielynn1970

07-01-2008, 05:00 PM

Hmmmm.... I know he's been doing the scooting thing, and I thought it was because he couldn't clean his butt cause he's so chubby. I know they don't have fleas or anything (no one goes outside, AND I give them Revolution, just to be safe during the spring/summer/fall months).

Guess I'll have to try a new food. I'm thinking that might be the source of both issues. I know Calloway was having some runny poops, so maybe when he was unable to clean himself, he did the scooting and it all just got to be an irritation.

I just noticed Finae's ears being less hairy the past few weeks. They've been totally switched to California Natural for about 1 1/2 months now. That would coincide with both issues. :( I feel so bad! I thought going back on the California Natural would be a good thing.

If the EVO stuff will help Cal lose some weight that would be great. I can't imagine not free feeding though. I have a few that freak out if I don't notice the feeder is almost empty and then they gorge and throw up. Think it's just left over instinct from their stray days. Sophie is especially sensitive when it comes to that, and she has the sensitive stomach and the colitis/IBD. She's the one I really needed to make sure could eat the dry food and not be barfing all over.

I'll run over to the one pet store that carries EVO and the other "gourmet" (expensive) foods tomorrow and see what I can find. Maybe they will have some samples I could try.

jennielynn1970

07-01-2008, 05:03 PM

I didn't realize cats got hot spots.

As for Finae, is it possible to give her fur a little tug w/out hurting her, I mean, if you try to pull a little bit of the fur out, does it come out easily, such as if you were pulling apart a paint brush?

I had no idea cats got hot spots either. I thought that was just a dog thing.

Tried pulling on Finae's hair (she was not amused), but none came out like that at all. It does look like there is some new growth, which makes me feel good. I'll have to see if I can get some pics of it. It's looks weird.

jennielynn1970

07-01-2008, 05:08 PM

poor Calloway! Keegan can sure sympathasize with him.

This is just her head -
http://shim1.shutterfly.com/procgserv/47b8d808b3127cce9854b70fb80b00000047109Qas2bFs1g
And here is a pic I took with my phone on Saturday.
http://shim1.shutterfly.com/procgserv/47b8d920b3127cce9854b7fae01300000047109Qas2bFs1g

YIKES!!! That looks so painful!! Poor Keegan!

I have no idea what Calloway's butt even looks like at this point, but it can't be good if they are keeping him overnight. The vet said something about "one big old hot spot", and I think that was all the way around his backside :( :o . Now I'm wondering how many days I missed this... I feel terrible about him being in pain. I know it's been messy a few days, but I thought it was just poop and I did try to clean it with wipes but that got me one heck of a nasty meow from Cal and swiped at and nipped at.

heidiv

07-01-2008, 06:04 PM

krazyaboutkatz

07-01-2008, 06:56 PM

"If the EVO stuff will help Cal lose some weight that would be great. I can't imagine not free feeding though. I have a few that freak out if I don't notice the feeder is almost empty and then they gorge and throw up. Think it's just left over instinct from their stray days. Sophie is especially sensitive when it comes to that, and she has the sensitive stomach and the colitis/IBD. She's the one I really needed to make sure could eat the dry food and not be barfing all over."

The main reason that all of my cats are now on Innova Evo is becasue of Starr's health problems and he also has Colitis and IBD. He can't eat any food that has grains in it. I also found out that Pearl breaks out on her chin and lips because she's also allergic to grains. They don't need to eat as much of this as with regular cat food so they only eat about 1/2 cup a day of the dry in 4 small feedings. I also give them the canned Innova Evo for 2 of the feedings in small amounts because it's so rich.

At first I was worried when I found out that Sunny had lost some weight but my vet reassured me that it's because of the Innova Evo which is a high protein diet. She said it's like us going on the "Atkins Diet". So now all of my cats have lost some weight and they all seem to be much more active and happy. Starr is still on a small dose of pred but will soon be weaned off of it entirely so then I'm sure that his body will adjust and he'll lose even more of the weight that he gained while on the pred. Good luck.:)

Emeraldgreen

07-01-2008, 08:17 PM

My vet's office used to get alot of Golden Retrievers in with hot spot, like Keegan. I've heard that it can be started or worsened by diet but also with moisture that stays on the skin. Alot of Goldens swim and the dampness can stay in their fur and irritate the skin that they then scratch and it progresses from there.
I think you're right, it probably is from the scooting. And, maybe there was some moisture there from his messy bum and it just got worse. Hopefully the vet will check his anal glands to make sure they are not impacted as well.

I haven't tried this but I've been thinking about it. My vet suggested that I take a box and cut a hole in it on the side that is big enough for my smaller cats to get in and out of easily and put a bowl of food in there for free feeding. That way, my two big guys, George and Paddy couldn't get in to eat because they are too big to fit through the hole. They would only get food when I give it to them twice a day. Sounds mean but it might be a good solution.
Right now, I put a large bowl of kibbles up on the window sill. Everyone who shares Paddy's room can hop up there but he isn't able to so it's pretty much the same thing I guess. :)

I was just suggesting to Moesha that she might want to ask her vet if the antibiotic Convenia injection would be applicable in Aroara's situation. Maybe it would be for Calloway too. I think I remember reading that it was good for skin and bacterial infections. Here is the website link: Convenia (http://www.convenia.com/)
It would be great if you didn't have to pill him twice a day. :)

momtomany

07-01-2008, 08:33 PM

jennielynn1970

07-01-2008, 10:38 PM

Just wanted to let you know if he is scooting it is probably his anal glands??? I wonder if a hot spot is the same thing as anal glands??? Anyway I just thought I would let you know that Mopar my oldest (heaviest) of my 4 is going in for her glands on Thrusday because she too! Has a horrible smell to her backend and she scoots across the floor. She has started this again so its time. I have to take her in about once every six months to have her glands done. I too thought that was a dog thing but my vet mentioned she has a couple of cats they have to do every once in a while. But yes I have to agree its VERY Unpleasent for the human caring for them.

So, do you see a correlation between being a large cat, not being able to clean well back there, and getting the anal glands impacted (or whatever they are called), then doing the scooting, and then if it's bad and not treated (bad bad foster meomy that I am) it would develop into a hot spot?? I'm trying to string all things together, and narrow out what might not be causing it.

Do you find it might be an allergic reaction to food?? I just changed their dry food from Nutro to California Natural about 1 1/2 months ago. This started about 1-2 weeks ago (scooting, that is, although I have seen him do it before a few times over the last year, but not regularly at all, which is why I give him Revolution, in case there were mites, or fleas or whatever may have been bugging him)

I'm looking now at Innova's EVO, Fromm's Gourmet meals. They seriously sound like something from a 4 star restaurant. I just dont' want to have Sophie barfing from an upset stomach (however, she did eat 2 sweet potato fries with me tonight, and liked them very much! She's so odd, my sweet Sophie!)

jennielynn1970

07-01-2008, 10:42 PM

The main reason that all of my cats are now on Innova Evo is becasue of Starr's health problems and he also has Colitis and IBD. He can't eat any food that has grains in it. I also found out that Pearl breaks out on her chin and lips because she's also allergic to grains. They don't need to eat as much of this as with regular cat food so they only eat about 1/2 cup a day of the dry in 4 small feedings. I also give them the canned Innova Evo for 2 of the feedings in small amounts because it's so rich.

I did start buying cans of the EVO last time I went to the warehouse when I knew what I wanted (you tell them, they deliver it to you from the warehouse.. you can't peruse and meander. So, I'll have to do that at their main store first, and then go to the warehouse.

I did try SO Organic canned food. I was repulsed by it. The cats snubbed it, and it was just like this pasty stuff that I've seen Iams try to pass off as kitten paste food. BLECH!

jennielynn1970

07-01-2008, 10:48 PM

What a handsome Tuxedo boy Calloway is. I just love tuxedos.......I have 3 tuxies and one who is now at the Rainbow Bridge. Give Calloway and head bump and scritchie from me when he comes home. I hope all turns out alright and he is feeling better. My female tuxie, Shelby, looks to be almost Calloway's size.

I am a total sucker for a tuxie. Cal won my heart when I first met him. He was so scared and timid after being in the kill shelter for so long. I brought him home and just wanted to love on him. I put him in a room with Ally Cat from Bahrain, but she literally attacked him and bit his tail open again where it was abscessed. I just lost all empathy for her that day, I was so upset. She was just evil with other cats, and to pick on the disable and infirm. That's just wrong.

So..Calloway wound his way into my heart (plus I grew up with tuxies all my life on the farm. We had Sneakers and Socks, and Boots and and Jrs. too. I just loved them all. There's a new return at our shelter that I want to get out of there becuase he's at least 30 pounds and is so obese it's painful, it has to be. His name is Dino.... so hope he will come home with me after I can get Calloway well. He's huge, but a sweet sweeet lovebug of a cat. I cannot bear to think of him stuck in the room that is basicaly a closet. breaks my heart.

jennielynn1970

07-02-2008, 02:33 PM

Oh my poor boy!! He is so not happy with his COMPLETELY shaved behind and bottom portion of his tail! He's being extremely talkative, very needy, and makes these pitiful cries/meows.

I need to try to keep his butt clean, which is going to be interesting since he doesn't want me to touch him back there. He's on Baytril for the next 10 days and he has a creme to put on it twice a day as well. The biggest problem is going to be keeping him confined and keeping him clean. He hates to be confined in one room, and like I said, he doesn't like his butt touched. I think I'll do cool compresses to make him feel better and then maybe after that he'll let me put the salve on him... hoping the cool makes it feel better and makes him more willing to me touching him.

He seems a bit restless... he's been up on the bed cuddled with me, then on the floor, then back on the bed, then back to the floor... I have a feeling this will repeat most of the day and night, lol. I have the windows open and there is a nice breeze, so he can lounge and watch all that is going on outside as well.

Actually, looking at his butt, I can't see much wrong... I do see scars on his tail from where it was injured before. He's always just been so sensitive in this area, wish it could have happened in another area of his body. I was expecting something really hideous and yucky, but maybe I just haven't been able to see it thoroughly yet??

Keep my boy in your thoughts... he's going to be one unhappy camper for a while!

Medusa

07-02-2008, 02:46 PM

Aw Calloway, we'll keep those prayers going up for you and your mom so that you both can rest easy. :)

Catty1

07-02-2008, 03:54 PM

Prayers to you and Calloway, Jenn! Glad he is home.:)

Did the vet say exactly what they found?

Too bad there isn't a spray you could squirt on his behind to at least numb it before you clean it...but the hissing sound would likely scare him. The cool compresses sound great for the poor sore behind!

I hope he is feeling better soon. Is he starting on the new food too?

Hugs and loves to Cal!:love:

jennielynn1970

07-02-2008, 04:47 PM

Did the vet say exactly what they found?

Too bad there isn't a spray you could squirt on his behind to at least numb it before you clean it...but the hissing sound would likely scare him. The cool compresses sound great for the poor sore behind!

I hope he is feeling better soon. Is he starting on the new food too?

Hugs and loves to Cal!:love:

The vet I saw said it was basically a hot spot, but couldn't really say why it developed. When I picked him up the other vet was there, and she said that if it were caused by food, she'd expect to see a lot more of them all over his body, not just one. Makes sense. She said it could have been from one of the other cats biting him :eek: (although I don't think that happened), or just from irritation because he is unable to clean himself thoroughly due to his weight and the stiffness from his injuries.

I have a spray Hydrocortisone for cats and dogs that I got when Kirby/Woody was here because he had such a rash on his belly when he got here. I don't know if that is something I can use for him or not, but I will call and ask tomorrow.

So far the only kitty who seems to be happy that Calloway is back, and doesn't seem to mind the vet smell, is Jorgie. He's cuddling with him now and is grooming his head and neck for him. He's such a good boy! Honeybun howled like there was something out to get him and bolted from my bedroom. He's the biggest wimp of a cat!

I think for the time being I'll stick to the California Natural (unless I notice more hair loss) because I don't want to cause more diarrhea for Cal since he will probably get it from the Baytril, and that will just irritate the hot spot (which I see is right in the middle between his butt and what's left of, what did lvpets2000 call them, "fun buttons" :p ).

Karen

07-02-2008, 04:59 PM

Poor Calloway. The hot humid weather doesn't help, But at least being shaved, he'll be cooler back there ... Poor guy!

And no, a hot spot isn't at all related to impacted anal glands. "Hot spots" are surface irritations, and you said the vet checked everything else out back there and he way okay.

krazyaboutkatz

07-02-2008, 05:17 PM

I'm glad to hear that Calloway is home now and I hope he'll recover quickly.:) Starr still has a problem with cleaning his bottom so I also have to try to clean it and he'll also try to bite me. My solution to this problem was to make a muzzle for him and this has helped out a lot. I also have to use this on Starr, Sky, and Storm when I trim their nails. It's very easy to make and all you need is a plastic cup and either some string or elastic string. Here's a picture of Storm wearing it.

The muzzle:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v176/krazyaboutkatz/Storm/OldBlindCatMuzzlePics016-croppedres.jpg

Storm with muzzle on:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v176/krazyaboutkatz/Storm/StormSkyInHomemadeCatMuzzle-7-5-070.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v176/krazyaboutkatz/Storm/StormSkyInHomemadeCatMuzzle-7-5--1.jpg

heidiv

07-02-2008, 05:57 PM

jennielynn1970

07-02-2008, 11:24 PM

Yes Jenn out of all of the four cats Mopar (the heaviest) is the only one with this issue. I can't say its food related because I havent really changed her food. But as far as cleaning she can't clean back there so I keep her good and shaved up by her rear....Not a fun job but Meowie has to do it. The reason why they drag their rear is because they are trying to do it themselves (express the glands). But for the most part they just make a mess on your floors and get themselves all irritated. And if they are not done it gets painful to them....Due to all of the dragging. Hope this helps and my prayers are with your poor kitty! Poor Mopar is going in tomarrow for that particular procedure:( She is usually much better after that is done...... So is he still irritated and smelly on his backside?

He doesn't look too irritated... I actually had to inspect to figure out where the heck the hot spot was because I couldn't see it right away. It wasn't anything like poor Keegan has on her head and neck. I guess I'll have to take him in regularly for the anal gland expression. I know he was blocked when I got him. I never dealt with it before, and so wasn't really sure what was going on. Now that I know, I'll be sure to try to keep up with it so he doesn't get that way. I might have to make appts with Jen Luckenbach to have him shaved back there on a regular basis. I'm just amazed that he's messier than my long haired cats.

I've just let him out of my room for the first time today. He was not happy with me. He'll just go downstairs and sleep, so, it's not that much different. I turned on the AC for him down there as well. We don't really need it, but I don't want it to get humid and warm for him. It's about 80* indoors at my place right now with the AC off. They want it up above 90* tomorrow, so the AC will most definitely be on. I'll be paying for it later, but once it's above 80 in the house, and opening windows just makes it worse, the AC goes on.

kittykatharine

07-04-2008, 05:49 PM

Oh poor Calloway. Seems like the poor boy has been through quite the ordeal. How difficult it must be to try to take care of him, when the one place you need access to is his "no touch zone". The cold compress sounds like it might be soothing to him, hopefully he wont be too difficult for you. Hopefully, what ever is bothering him will go away real soon, and he will be feeling much better. As for the hair loss, one time my kitty had a similar weird hair loss on her ears and right in front of her ears. When I took her to the vet, he had said that sometimes in kitties you have this strange clumping of cells that can cause hair loss in that area. Typically it is not a problem, and once the cells move on, the hair strangely grows back. He said that vets don't know why this happens and what the purpose is, but that usually it just corrects itself. This is what happened to my kitty. Well, I hope you all have a great weekend and both your kitties are feeling better!:cool:

jennielynn1970

07-13-2008, 12:43 AM

Well, Finae's ear hair seems to be growing back, so I'm pleased about that.

Calloway is doing very well. His backside looks much better, and he's relaxing and enjoying things again.

I'm also changing over their food to EVO (thanks for the suggestion KAK). I talked to the woman who runs the one store/warehouse that I go to, and she said that since EVO is carb free, it should help Calloway and Zach lose weight, while my thin girls should maintain or gain some weight because of the protein. I didn't start the mix yet, but have a container full of the mix. I did it in batches, with all EVO on the bottom of the container, then 2 parts EVO to 3 parts California Natural, then 1 part EVO to 4 parts California Natural, and at the top it's 1 part EVO to 5 parts California Natural. It's 26 pounds total, so it will take about a month to switch over totally. I'm also glad that they are both Innova brand cat foods. I'm hoping that it will be a good switch. It's pricey, but if it's better for all of them, and Cal and Zach can get to healthy weights, I'll be happy.